Walmart planting flag in Toa Baja with $31M Supercenter

Joined by a contingent of municipal and central government officials, Walmart Puerto Rico announced Tuesday the construction of its future $31 million Supercenter store in Toa Baja, expected to open at the end of this year.

As News is my Business reported in October, the new 142,000 square foot location accessible from Route 2, will generate some 400 new jobs.

“After 20 years in Puerto Rico our company continues its island growth,” said Walmart Regional General Manager Jaime Fernández. “The new Walmart Supercenter in Toa Baja will be the 17th store in the chain and reaffirms that we are committed to the development of Puerto Rico and to promoting greater commercial activity in the region.”

“We will also continue to support our local suppliers, which in turn has a positive impact on the overall economy,” he said.

Construction firm Constructura Santiago is in charge of building the store that will become the first to sport a completely new façade, as well as 700 parking spaces. The store will have a deli, rotisserie, bakery, meat department, pharmacy, optical, jewelry department, financial services, as well as a Panda Express as its neighbor.

In keeping with Walmart’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation, the new store will operate with more energy-efficient equipment. These include the use of “glycol” in mid-temperature refrigerators, as well as LED lighting in parking lots, the building’s periphery and in refrigeration equipment.

Gov. Luis Fortuño, along with Economic Development and Commerce Secretary José Pérez-Riera, Labor Secretary Miguel Romero and Toa Baja Mayor Aníbal Vega-Borges were on hand for the groundbreaking.

“The expansion of Walmart in Puerto Rico is a living example of what we can accomplish when the government becomes the ally of the private sector,” said Fortuño. “The only way to create lasting and sustainable jobs is by empowering small and medium entrepreneurs, investors and retailers to enable them to expand and create jobs in Puerto Rico … that’s the only way to build a strong and robust economy that will bear fruit for future generations.”